Image June 30, 2013 by Theresa Mae Funk

Lycopene

Lycopene is a naturally occurring chemical that gives fruits and vegetables a red color. As you can tell by the photo, our tomatoes are loaded with the stuff. According to the American Cancer Society, a major claim for lycopene’s benefits is in the prevention and treatment of cancers of the lung, prostate, stomach, bladder, cervix, skin, and, especially, prostate. In support of these claims regarding cancer, proponents note that lycopene is a powerful antioxidant, a compound that blocks the action of free radicals, activated oxygen molecules that can damage cells, and that several scientific studies have found lower risk of cancer among people who eat lycopene-rich foods.

The bowl of tomatoes were grown in our garden, and we continue to harvest and eat them daily. With the triple digit heat that is expected to last until the 4th of July, I anticipate that we’ll be eating more of these lycopene rich fruits on a daily basis.
~T.

June 27, 2013 by Theresa Mae Funk

Pine Nut Opine

More than 80 percent of the pine nuts eaten in American are harvested from the Korean pine, (Pinus koraiensis) a native tree in eastern Asia. it is the most widely traded pine nut in international commerce.

Knowing this made the two-hour task of harvesting a half-cup of seeds from California’s native Gray pine trees (Pinus sabiniana) seem a bit less tedious, and the garden fresh basil and thyme pesto will taste all the better for having made the effort.

~T.

June 19, 2013 by Theresa Mae Funk

Making Time for Art

Uprooting 21 years of an established life in one corner of a country and transplanting it thousands of miles away in an entirely different climate and culture requires attention to details that can, if you let them, consume most of the 24 hours in a given day. The distractions have impaired my ability to fully getting my Funk on, but I’ve been making adjustments so that I have time in every day to create “art”.

When I lived in Vermont, I would most often prefer to write songs to play on my guitar.
Poetry was an interest I pursued while waiting for winter to pass, but it was always forsaken when the warmth of spring arrived.
My time was then spent absorbing the beauty of the natural world while plotting out the garden and germinating seeds.
California is pure inspiration and more conducive to growing things, in every sense of the word.
Today I sowed more seeds, transplanted beet starts and basil, and then took a break from gardening to play with my crayons that I like to let melt in the sun.